GTB Arraigns Staff Member for Stealing N9.9m from Customers

For allegedly betraying the trust reposed in him by his employer as the officer in charge of payment of drivers’ retirement benefits and stealing close to N10 million from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Komolafe Oluwayomi of the Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos branch of the bank has been remanded at Ikoyi correctional facility.

When the fraud was discovered, the bank filed a lawsuit against the 45-year-old Banker.

He allegedly hacked into the bank’s system, stealing N9,989,000 from its account for personal use.

When the matter was reported, Oluwayomi’s arrest was ordered by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bar Beach Division, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Inspector Patience Eguabor led the investigation team.

Oluwayomi, who hails from Ondo State, resides at Unity Close, Ojodu, Lagos.

He was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

Police counsel, Ben Ekundayo, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence during working hours at GTBank located at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ekundayo told the court that the defendant betrayed the trust reposed in him by his employer as the officer in charge of payment of drivers’ retirement benefits by fraudulently including the name and account number of his friend in the retirement benefits payroll and used it to transfer the sum of N9,989,000 into his friend’s account as if his friend is a beneficiary of the retirement benefits and later transferred the money from his friend’s account to his personal account domiciled at GTB Bank and converted the money to his use.

He said the management of GTB uncovered the fraud when they audited the drivers’ retirement payroll accounts.

Ekundayo said the offences the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411 and 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Magistrate M.A. Owunmi granted him N2 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Owunmi adjourned the case till June 11 and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected his bail conditions.